Fri. March 19, 2004
Chicago, IL -
Pop Music Albums/CDs
Standing At The Edge – Casey Stratton (Sony Music)
Me likes this one quite a bit! Categorized by some as a “thinking man’s Clay Aiken,” as far as I’m concerned, the classically-trained Mr. Stratton stands on his own two feet with his ultra-smooth style and ethereal voice.
Listening to this CD (which I have seen classified as alternative adult contemporary), you can understand the influences of the likes of Tori Amos and Sarah McLachlan on Stratton with his introspective lyrics. While this debut effort is somewhat over-produced and comes across as too stylized and slick at times, tracks such as “Contagious” and “Blood” are evidence of a real talent behind the presented package. I would expect that Standing At The Edge will find a willing and receptive audience (as it did with me), but the excitement that I derive from this CD is the anticipation of what might next come from Stratton. He’s one to watch. – DJ Plez
Soulful - Ruben Studdard (J Records)
Well, since Americal Idol has been brought up in this column, let’s keep it rolling. First off, is it me, or is the talent this year way below par? Regardless of that answer, last year’s winner, Ruben Studdard has talent for days and shows it off in his debut CD which came out a few months ago, the appropriately named Soulful. This package of R&B/commercial pop - which includes remakes of the Bee-Gees’ “How Can You Mend A Broken Hearts” and The Carpenters’ “Superstar” as well as my personal favorite “Sorry 2004” - is well put together and showcases the voice that became familiar to millions in the past year. Whether Studdard will be able to parlay his Idol win into a long successful career with lasting impact remains to be seen; however, Soulful at least gets him off to a good start. As with Stratton, anticipation of where Studdard might go with his next effort puts a smile on my face. – DJ Plez
In This Skin – Jessica Simpson (Columbia)
This is a recent re-release of a CD that came out last year (they added some tracks), and probably due to the success of her MTV reality show Newlyweds, it has stormed up to the top of the charts. Simpson shows a bit of mature grit to her voice as she demonstrates that she’s more than just a teen pop goddess with this third CD of hers. As well, there’s a bit more maturity to the lyrical content, especially with songs like “Sweetest Sin” and “Underneath.” Jessica may come across as a bubble-head at times on her TV show, but with In This Skin it seems like she knows well enough of what she’s doing inside a recording studio. – DJ Plez
Feels Like Home – Norah Jones (Blue Note)
I am the first to admit that I got caught sleeping the first time Ms. Jones, the American-born daughter of Indian sitar master Ravi Shankar, came around. I kept thinking to myself “Who is this woman who has just swept the Grammys?” Well, not this time. I may be a “johnny-come-lately”, but I’m here now, and I’m a fan. Her voice is undeniably good and on Feels Like Home I get this tremendous sense of casual confidence in her performances. Her expressions of country, jazz, rock, and folk stylings, with a bit a funkiness, brings a remarkably refreshing feel to this adult contemporary genre of music. – DJ Plez
Home – Simply Red (Simplyred)
Simply Red has been around for coming up on 20 years and within that time lead singer Mick Hucknall’s voice has become one of the most recognizable in the history of pop music. Home, which was produced on the band’s own label, came out last year but is still enjoying commercial and critical success as the fourth single from the album, the title track “Home,” is about to be released. Including the huge hit and my favorite cut on the CD, “Sunrise,” and an excellent remake of “You Make Me Feel Brand New,” Home is a most enjoyable pop CD that is worthy of a spot in discriminating CD collections. On Home you find real music played by real musicians on real instruments and a real good voice – Hucknall’s – delivering that signature sound. What more could you want? – DJ Plez.
Body Language – Kylie Minogue (EMI America)
Even after all those years of gracing the speakers in our homes, cars, bars, and clubs, Ms. Minogue still manages to sound fresh with much of the product she delivers on her latest album, Body Language. Lyrically, this CD may not be as mature as one would expect and hope from a woman in her mid-30s, but the music, with it’s electro feel and slower than usual Kylie rhythms, is quite appealing. The first single from Body Language, “Slow,” was a huge international hit (in part thanks to the numerous interesting dance remixes that were spawned), but I’m not sure if there will be that type of response to the other singles that will be released (I’m already not a big fan of the current single that’s out “Red Blooded Woman”). With tracks such as “Chocolate,” “Secret (Take You Home)” and “I Feel For You,” in my opinion, this CD is a strong, cohesive project and not just a collections of singles, each with chart-topping capabilities. Kudos to Kylie for taking a bit of a risk and straying away from the high-energy dance/pop formula that has been so successful for her over the years. The risk has paid off. – DJ Plez
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